Back in port we be!

our  campsite garden

The maiden voyage redo went so well we're booking another trip next month.  The Pink Pearl was a joy, a hit with other campers, and a pleasure to sleep in.

We did learn that overly shy people would not do well to camp in one of these.  We had our first visitor upon arrival, as we were setting everything up.  A nice man who was curious about our cute trailer.  He came right up and asked us about it, we gave him a tour, and he chatted with the hubby about her.

Of course we drew some attention.  People seem drawn to something.  A bygone era perhaps.  Possibly fond memories.   As if my crew doesn't attract enough attention normally, the Pearl draws people in.

Sobe had a great time, but definitely proved she is a
suburban doggie

I sat and stared at this interesting grouping
of trees forever

The kids immediately wanted to go on an explore

We played games

cooked various things over an open fire

had a little musical entertainment

The next morning:

We had one just like this when I
was a kid...

 We enjoyed watching a woodpecker do his thing on
this tree

the bitties were fascinated by how fast these
spun

Guess what she's doing???    (uh huh, you
guessed it!)

They enjoyed many treats, including Pixie Sticks
which we decided The Pink Pearl should never be without

This squirrel was nearby taunting Sobe

We even received the hippie stamp of approval!  A lovely hippie couple complete with hand painted vw bus like this one

Photo credit:  Marshall Astor from San Pedro, United States 

were overheard remarking "now there's a family you know is down to earth!  Keepin it real you know?!"

Photo from VooDoo Donuts online
merch catalog

 Love it!  They even came by to talk to us as we were packing up.


  Then came the "all you need is a '57 Chevy to pull her and it'll be perfect".  The hippie guy and my hubby then talked classic cars and they noticed his Voodoo Donuts shirt and we scored even more points!

By Mike McCune
[CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
via Wikimedia Commons

So the trip was definitely a success, and very much fun!  We have decided to attempt to take a trip every month.

Then we returned home.....  



As we entered the house I went to open all the windows and curtains as I do, and as I opened the back sliding glass door I was greeted by this....

Twinkie taking a dust bath

 Twinkie is the only one I eventually got a picture of.  All of the chickens and ducks were out making a snack of my planter beds.  So the first thing I did was round them up, get them back into their enclosure, then grabbed my camera...

 When I left all 4 of my planter boxes were completely covered with sprouting things.  All manner of things... it looked like a carpet of green.  It seemed most of our seeds had sprouted.

guess the mint was last on their list
(they have mint in their area so
this was nosurprise)

they even destroyed some of the
marigolds.

They did however leave the freshly planted African Daisies and Lavender alone.  But bit all the blooms off my columbine

                 which looked like this                                                      

  when I planted it.

So, there was much sadness.....    But then........




We did it!  We went and purchased this

Our 'new' 65 Dodge Dart

The Dart.  She still needs a name.  Havn't given it much thought yet.  She is SO much fun to drive!  And has all this charm, like manual windows and she idles pretty funky right now (the timing is off).  But this post is getting quite long, so more on her later.

                               ......  and we all lived happily ever after

                                                                      The End

Success!

So far the maiden voyage redo is a success.   Thought i'd give you a glimpse of this mornings happenings....

Avast we be leaving our moorings!

Ahoy!!  Today we prep for our next adventure in The Pink Pearl.  I have to tell you though that the fever is spreading.  Now we have our son looking at Vintage cars to buy.  We went to see a '65 Dodge Dart ( a model sentimental to my hubby) this morning, and as we're driving around town in it I could just imagine us rolling up into a camp site with the Pearl attached to it.  So cute!  And it's white, so it'll match perfectly.  

The anticipation is getting to me now.  I am so excited to spend a couple of days away with the whole family.  We have a hard time coordinating everyone's schedules anymore. 

Sunday

I wrote half of this post yesterday, but was too busy to ever publish.  And I already have an update.  I believe we are soon to be the new owners of a classic Dodge Dart!  More info and pics to come later.  

Right now we are readying the Pearl for the Maiden Voyage redo.  Off to our next adventure!

See you later alligators!

I need an Oasis

Life is complicated.  That's just the way it is.


Lately I have been contemplating simplicity.  I have no doubt that working on restoring our Vintage trailer 'The Pink Pearl' has been the cause of my waxing nostalgic on many occasions of late.   In fact the other day I did this journal page



because I awoke with this song in my head    

I sang the song all day and remembered what that song meant to me as a kid.  I must have had this song on vinyl because I remember playing it in my room and singing it with all of my heart.  I loved the ideas it expressed  peace, love, honestly I love Coke.  I loved people then.  It was before I learned some very difficult lessons.  It's exhausting feeling hurt, angry and disappointed all the time.  It's not me.  So I have changed that.   I have found that it's never too late to be who you were meant to be.   It's difficult at times getting back there, but it can be done.

re-learning Granny squares

Back to nostalgia.  Maybe it's all the dreams I have been having for the last year and a half of my family of origin;   My sister's constant presence, my Gramsy and her kitchen, my cousins, aunts, uncles, friends I met in elementary school.  Or maybe it's handling the yarn and remembering a much simpler time when my Gramsy taught me how to crochet.

It could be any of so many things I've been up to lately.  And then there's faith.  My family and I have found somewhere we belong and dear friends in an ancient faith.  This too takes me back to my youth, when I learned to pray the rosary, had my first communion, completed catechism.  It's all so familiar.  Orthodoxy is not Catholicism, though there are many similarities being from the same roots.  I feel my life has truly come full circle now.  It has been rounding that bend for the last few years, but now I feel like this circle is complete.  

 

Gramsys button jar

I miss simpler times.  This weekend  is our second 'inaugural' voyage in The Pearl.  For a good laugh, and info on the first voyage click here.  One thing I am looking forward to this time, besides actually camping, is the simplicity of it all.  I wonder will it feel as if time has slowed when there is nothing to do.  No modern distractions?  I hope so.

 I am so looking forward to spending time with my family.  These kids are growing and aging at an amazing pace and I fear life is moving so fast I wont feel as if I really know who they are if I don't take some time to slow down and just be with them.  It's too easy to get caught up in labels, and activities- the college student, new driver, ballerina, derby girl and the twins.  But I know they are oh so much more than that. 

 They need time to get to know the real me as well. The spontaneous, fun, silly me.  The me who loves to sit around a campfire and roast marshmallows, or play a board game with no distractions, who loves to go for a walk and watch the dog explore new and amazing scents.  There is so much more to me than the chauffer, the cook, the homeschool mom, the checkbook.  This camping trip will offer all of us the opportunity to experience that.  No time constraints, no agendas. 

You know there was a a time I thought all things vintage were a silly thing to spend one's time on.  And I thought crocheted items were dated and ugly.  Especially the 'granny square', now I'm crocheting a blanket for The Pearl.   Funny how things change.  Our Oasis Trailer being from the late '50's has changed that.  My quest for vintage items began with her.  My quest for simplicity began with a hectic schedule and a harried life as a mom to 6 very active kids.  Time to slow down and enjoy my roses.  I hope you soon get a chance to enjoy yours too.

The Pink Pearl Progress

The Pearls Jolly Roger 

Update number two!  

The Pink Pearl Progress...

This past week was spent readying The Pearl for her next voyage coming up soon...  

Thunder finished the Jolly Roger!  It's perfect!  Now she needs some grommets and The Pearl needs a flagpole, or mast or something, then we're good to go.

This is to become some of the decor.  One of my girls had fun making this little scenario up...  

My biggest girl had fun making up this lovely
decorative element.  

Here lies the missing bird (no
animals were actually harmed in
the making of this)

I took a pile of this

And made about a million of these until
I ran out of thread.  

The crew works on her exterior.

A lock, finally!

This one's a little lazy.  She tested out the bed.

The 8th member of our crew finally showed up for duty

guess what this is?

cleaning the whole exterior with a magic eraser

and a spot here too...

No reveal yet.  Just wanted to give you a little taste of what we've been up to.   We are a week away from our next voyage, lets hope we have no more 'family vacation' style incidents.  More on the Pearl Progress as the week progresses, I hope... 

and a little update on the farm report.  This morning I awoke to catch the carnation eating culprit in the act-- well sort of...  

I think she was resting there after her meal.  

when I opened the door she promptly sat up
in an attempt to look innocent

realizing it was futile she hopped over to the
other pot to sample what's over there
(my freshly planted Jasmine and more
carnations-- yum!)

Look at that face though, who could be mad?

As I step out the door she hops up to apologize ( I
would like to think anyway) and to say good morning.

The results.  Not a carnation or stem left to
be found...  

She gives me kisses.  Sweet bun, you know I still love you.